Folding chair having integrated audio port

ABSTRACT

A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person. The chair comprises a framework for supporting the person. The framework, in turn, comprises at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation. A flexible fabric is supported from the frame work. The fabric is adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seat back and defines at least one cutout in the seat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery. When the chair is in the transportation mode, the seating surface and seat back are folded. A speaker is attached through the cutout and over the turned and bound periphery. An audio port comprising a plate is attached to one of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair and the seat back of the chair. The audio port is placed in a position whereby the person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turning in the chair and without rising from a seated position. A flexible baglike receptacle is attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface. The receptacle is physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from an outer periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position to protect the contents of the receptacle from damage.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates to outdoor folding chairs. More specifically, theinvention relates to outdoor folding chairs having an integrated audioport and speakers.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Folding chairs are known in the art and are used in a variety of outdoorsituations, such as outside a home, while camping or hiking, at a poolor a beach as well as a multitude of other situations. Previously,outdoor folding chairs typically comprised a base and a seat portionthat comprised webbing material attached to the chair frame. The chairfolded by collapsing the back adjacent the seating area and the webbingmaterial remained taut to the seat back and the seating area whether thechair was folded or unfolded. These chairs did not fold to a verycompact configuration and were cumbersome to transport.

Taking the place of older style folding chairs described above werefolding chairs that incorporate two rear upright legs attached tocrossbraces that support the upright legs, as shown in U.S. Pat. No.5,984,406, to form a frame. The contents of the '406 patent areincorporated herein by reference. Flexible fabric panels are attached tothe frame to form a seating surface and a seat back. Flexible panels mayalso be used to form arm rests. Folding chairs of this type, whenfolded, occupy less space and therefore are more easily transportable bythe user. Chairs of this type also commonly incorporate drink holders,as shown in the '406 patent. When the frame of the chair is folded, theflexible panels of the seat back, seating surface and arm rests becomefolded upon themselves and

However, these chairs represent an obstacle when attaching accessoryitems because they do not maintain their shape as with prior art chairswhen in the folded position. Specifically, the seat back and seatingsurface fold upon themselves as the framework is moved to the folded orcollapsed position, as can be understood from the '406 patent. Moreover,the primary surfaces are flexible or flaccid and do not readily supportaccessories, such as speakers, amplifiers or input jacks.

Therefore, there is a need in the prior art for a method of attachingspeakers, audio input ports and/or audio playback devices to foldingchairs of the modern variety.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention comprises a foldable outdoor chair for supportingat least one person. The chair comprises a framework for supporting theperson. The framework, in turn, comprises at least two vertical postshaving a plurality of crossbraces attached thereto such that thecrossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chair from a firstunfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seating and a secondfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for transportation. Aflexible fabric is supported from the frame work. The fabric is adaptedto provide both a seating surface and a seat back and defines at leastone cutout in the seat back the cutout comprising a turned and boundperiphery. When the chair is in the transportation mode, the seatingsurface and seat back are folded. A speaker is attached through thecutout and over the turned and bound periphery. An audio port comprisinga plate is attached to one of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seatingsurface of the chair and the seat back of the chair. The audio port isplaced in a position whereby the person seated in the chair can accessthe audio port without turning in the chair and without rising from aseated position. A flexible baglike receptacle is attached to one of theflexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface. Thereceptacle is physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from anouter periphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position toprotect the contents of the receptacle from damage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1A is an isometric view of a folding chair having integrated audioport according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 1B is an isometric view of a folding chair having integrated audioport according to another embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 2 is a top view of a folding chair having integrated audio portaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 3 is a front view of a folding chair having integrated audio portaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 4 is a side view of a folding chair having integrated audio portaccording to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is an isometric view of a folding chair having integrated audioport according to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 6 is a top view of a folding chair having integrated audio portaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 7 is a front view of a folding chair having integrated audio portaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 8 is a side view of a folding chair having integrated audio portaccording to a second embodiment of the present invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT

While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many differentforms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be described indetail preferred embodiments of the invention with the understandingthat the present disclosure is to be considered as an exemplification ofthe principles of the invention and is not intended to limit the broadaspect of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

The most preferred embodiment of the present invention comprises afolding chair incorporating an integrated audio port, amplifier andspeakers. The integrated audio port allows the user to connect the audiosource of the user's choosing, such as a CD player, DVD player, AM or FMradio or an audio playback device comprising an integrated storagememory, such as devices containing miniature hard drives or solid statememory, for example an APPLE IPOD branded storage device. The chairaccepts different audio input sources, amplifies those sources with anintegrated adjustable amplifier and plays the sources on integratedspeakers while still maintaining the ability of the chair to be foldedand transported.

In that regard and referring to FIGS. 1-5, there is shown a chair 10according to an embodiment of the present invention. The chair 10comprises a frame 12 having a pair of upwardly extending posts 14 and aplurality of crossbraces 16. Stretched across the frame 12 are a seatingsurface 18 and a seat back 20. In the most preferred embodiment, shownin FIG. 1, the seating surface 18 and the seat back 20 comprises asingle sheet of fabric attached to the frame 12 only at the four cornersof the fabric. The frame 12 is foldable to a retracted position wherebythe chair 10 may be easily transported by the user and unfoldable to anexpanded position whereby the chair 10 the seating surface 18 may beused to support a user. The seating surface 18 and the seat back 20 willeasily compress within the folded seat frame 12 and easily expand to theposition shown in FIG. 1 whereupon a person's weight may be supported bythe fabric.

The chair 10 further comprises a pair of armrests 24 supported by theposts 14 and two extension rods 22 which extend from some of the crossbraces 16. The armrests 24 may optionally include drink holders 26 forsupporting a user's drink while seated in the chair 10. Also attached toor disposed in the flexible fabric of one of the arm rests 24 is anintegrated audio port 28. The integrated audio port 28 is attached tothe fabric of the arm rest 24 such that it does not impede theflexibility of the arm rest 24 and its ability to collapse and fold yetprovides a solid surface for an audio jack 30 to be mounted to which anaudio playback device may be attached (FIG. 1A). The integrated audioport 28 is attached to the fabric by cutting a hole therein and turningand binding the fabric. The additional overlap of fabric as a result ofthe turning and binding provides additional thickness, strength andrigidity of the fabric. The integrated audio port 28 is attached to thefabric of the arm rest 24. Alternatively, as shown in FIG. 1B, theintegrated audio port 28 can be attached to an audio playback devicestorage receptacle 36, described below.

The integrated audio port 28 further comprises a volume switch 32 bywhich the volume of the sound from the audio playback device can bemodulated on a pair of speakers 34 attached to the seat back 20 of thechair 10. The speakers 34 are attached through cutouts in the fabric ofthe chair 10. The fabric near the speakers 34 is also turned and boundand the speakers 34 are attached to the fabric. The additional overlapof fabric of the turning and binding provides additional thickness,strength and rigidity of the fabric.

Also attached to the flexible armrest 24 is an audio playback devicestorage receptacle 36 into which the audio playback device maytemporarily stored while in use by the user. The placement of thereceptacle 36 adjacent the natural sitting position of the user and theuser's hands facilitates adjustment of the playback device 36 while inuse, for example, by allowing easy selection of songs to be played fromthe device or changing the station of the device as with a radio. Thereceptacle 36 is not directly attached to the frame 12 in any manner,but rather hangs from the fabric such that the receptacle 36 is notbound to any fixed position with respect to the frame 12 and may beeasily stored within the frame 12 when the frame 12 is folded, such thatan audio device within the receptacle 36 is stored within the outerconfines of the frame 12 and is protected thereby when in the retractedposition (See FIG. 5). Moreover, the speakers 34 are similarly storedwithin the outer confines of the frame 12 so that they are protected bythe frame 12 when the frame 12 is retracted or folded. Flexibleelectrical wires attach the speakers 34 to the port 28. In a preferredembodiment, the wires are allowed to hang loose from the port 28, chair10 and speakers 34 in order to facilitate folding of the chair 10.

Referring to FIGS. 6-10, a second embodiment of the presenting inventionis shown. In the second embodiment, the chair comprises double chair100. The double chair 100 comprises a framework 102 for supporting theuser according to the same principles as the first embodiment. A fabricseating surface 104 and fabric seat back 106 are constructed from asingle length of material. A pair of users may each be seated in thechair 100 upon the seating surface 104. Each user has an armrest 107resting upon a vertical post 108 of the framework 102 and one of each oftwo extension rods 110 attached to the crossbraces 112 of the framework102.

Mounted within the seat back 106 are three speakers 114. The additionaloverlap of fabric of the turning and binding provides additionalthickness, strength and rigidity of the fabric at the mounting point ofthe speakers 114. Also mounted within the seatback is an integratedaudio port 116. The integrated audio port 116 is located between theusers' seating areas and further is mounted to only the fabric of theseating area such that the audio port 116 has no fixed relationship withrespect to the framework 112 of the chair 100. In this manner, as above,the audio port 116 is maintained within the framework 112 when the chair100 is folded and is protected from damage during transportation. Theport 116 includes an audio jack 118 and a volume control 120. A wire 117extends from jack 118 to a receptacle 122 that may be used to connect anaudio playback device. The receptacle 122 is attached to only the fabricof the seating surface 104 and folds within the framework 102 and issecurely protected inside the framework 102 from damage whiletransporting the chair 100. The receptacle 122 is further located in aposition such that both users of the chair may easily access theplayback device to manipulate a control, such as song selection controlsor radio station selection controls.

The above examples show that the invention, as defined by the claims,has far ranging application and should not be limited merely to theembodiments shown and described in detail. Instead the invention shouldbe limited only to the explicit words of the claims, and the claimsshould not be arbitrarily limited to embodiments shown in thespecification. The scope of protection is only limited by the scope ofthe accompanying claims, and the Examiner should examine the claims onthat basis.

1. A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one personcomprising: a framework for supporting the person, the frameworkcomprising at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbracesattached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable toconvert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair isadapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair isadapted for transportation; a flexible fabric supported from the framework, the piece of fabric adapted to provide both a seating surface anda seat back, the fabric defining at least one cutout in the seat backthe cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery, wherein when thechair is in said transportation mode, the seating surface and seat backare folded; a speaker attached through cutout and over the turned andbound periphery; an audio port comprising a plate attached to one of aflexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair and the seatback of the chair, the audio port placed in a position whereby theperson seated in the chair can access the audio port without turning inthe chair and without rising from a seated position; and a flexiblebaglike receptacle attached to one of the flexible fabric arm rest andthe flexible fabric seating surface, the receptacle physically adaptedto hold its contents inwardly from outer periphery of the chair when thechair is in the folded position to protect the contents of thereceptacle from damage.
 2. The chair of claim 1 wherein the seatingsurface is adapted to seat two or more users, the receptacle beingattached to the seating surface between at least two of the users, andthe audio port being affixed to the seat back of the chair.
 3. The chairof claim 1 wherein the seating surface is adapted to seat no more thanone user, the receptacle being attached to the only the flexible armrest of the chair and hanging therefrom and the audio port being affixedto the flexible fabric surface of the arm rest.
 4. The chair of claim 1wherein the plate further comprises an amplifier affixed only to theplate.
 5. The chair of claim 1 wherein the audio port further comprisesa volume switch for controlling the volume of the sound emanating fromthe speakers.
 6. A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least oneperson comprising: a framework for supporting the person, the frameworkcomprising at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbracesattached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable toconvert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair isadapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair isadapted for transportation; a flexible fabric supported from the framework, the single piece of fabric adapted to provide both a seatingsurface and a seat back, the fabric defining at least one cutout in theseat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery, whereinwhen the chair is in said transportation mode, the seating surface andseat back are folded; a speaker attached through cutout and over theturned and bound periphery; an audio port comprising a plate attached toone of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair andthe seat back of the chair, the audio port placed in a position wherebythe person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turningin the chair and without rising from a seated position, wherein theaudio port; a flexible baglike receptacle attached to one of theflexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface, thereceptacle physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from outerperiphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position toprotect the contents of the receptacle from damage; and the seatingsurface is adapted to seat two or more users, the receptacle beingattached to the seating surface between at least two of the users, andthe audio port being affixed to the seat back of the chair.
 7. The chairof claim 6 wherein the seating surface is adapted to seat no more thanone user, the receptacle being attached to the only the flexible armrest of the chair and hanging therefrom and the audio port being affixedto the flexible fabric surface of the arm rest.
 8. The chair of claim 6wherein the plate further comprises an amplifier affixed only to theplate.
 9. The chair of claim 6 wherein the audio port further comprisesa volume switch for controlling the volume of the sound emanating fromthe speakers.
 10. A foldable outdoor chair for supporting at least oneperson comprising: a framework for supporting the person, the frameworkcomprising at least two vertical posts having a plurality of crossbracesattached thereto such that the crossbraces and posts are moveable toconvert the chair from a first unfolded position wherein the chair isadapted for seating and a second folded position wherein the chair isadapted for transportation; a flexible fabric supported from the framework, the single piece of fabric adapted to provide both a seatingsurface and a seat back, the fabric defining at least one cutout in theseat back the cutout comprising a turned and bound periphery, whereinwhen the chair is in said transportation mode, the seating surface andseat back are folded; a speaker attached through cutout and over theturned and bound periphery; an audio port comprising a plate attached toone of a flexible, fabric arm rest, the seating surface of the chair andthe seat back of the chair, the audio port placed in a position wherebythe person seated in the chair can access the audio port without turningin the chair and without rising from a seated position, wherein theaudio port; a flexible baglike receptacle attached to one of theflexible fabric arm rest and the flexible fabric seating surface, thereceptacle physically adapted to hold its contents inwardly from outerperiphery of the chair when the chair is in the folded position toprotect the contents of the receptacle from damage; and the seatingsurface is adapted to seat no more than one user, the receptacle beingattached to the only the flexible arm rest of the chair and hangingtherefrom and the audio port being affixed to the flexible fabricsurface of the arm rest.
 11. The chair of claim 10 wherein the platefurther comprises an amplifier affixed only to the plate.
 12. The chairof claim 10 wherein the audio port further comprises a volume switch forcontrolling the volume of the sound emanating from the speakers.
 13. Afoldable outdoor chair for supporting at least one person comprising: aframework for supporting the person, the framework comprising at leasttwo vertical posts having a plurality of crossbraces attached theretosuch that the crossbraces and posts are moveable to convert the chairfrom a first unfolded position wherein the chair is adapted for seatingand a second folded position wherein the chair is adapted fortransportation; a flexible fabric supported from the frame work, thepiece of fabric adapted to provide both a seating surface and a seatback, the fabric defining at least one cutout in the seat back thecutout, wherein when the chair is in said transportation mode, theseating surface and seat back are folded; a speaker attached through thecutout; a flexible baglike receptacle attached to one of the flexiblefabric arm rests and the flexible fabric seating surface, the receptaclephysically adapted to hold its contents outwardly from outer peripheryof the chair when the chair is in the folded position to provide spacethe person; and an audio port comprising a plate attached to thereceptacle.
 14. The chair of claim 13 wherein the seating surface isadapted to seat two or more users.
 15. The chair of claim 13 wherein theplate further comprises an amplifier affixed only to the plate.
 16. Thechair of claim 13 wherein the audio port further comprises a volumeswitch for controlling the volume of the sound emanating from thespeakers.